as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
she is quite proficient at computer repair a proficient rendition of a difficult piano piece
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adept
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
an urgent call by the state department for proficients in Arabic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of proficient
Kelly Iko, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Statewide, 28 schools got A grades despite at least half of their students not being proficient in language arts, while 56 schools got the top grade even though half or more of their students scored poorly in math.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
While only half its students were proficient in math and language arts this year, two years ago, only 25% scored well in language arts and 11% in math.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Adjective
The Rockets toggled back and forth between zone and man-to-man defense all evening, but being proficient in the former is becoming increasingly important under Udoka.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Statewide, 28 schools got A grades despite at least half of their students not being proficient in language arts, while 56 schools got the top grade even though half or more of their students scored poorly in math.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
While only half its students were proficient in math and language arts this year, two years ago, only 25% scored well in language arts and 11% in math.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for proficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficient
Adjective
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Ride horseback with local gauchos (skilled horsemen) near the quaint towns of Cachi or Cafayate.—
Carola Fresno,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Kansas once had at least one skilled nursing home option in all 105 counties in the state.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The digital adept also had a nearly eight-year stretch at Teen Vogue.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
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Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The result is a skillful balance between dewy and glossy, blushy and gleamy.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
18 July 2025
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But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Legal experts on religion cases expect the court will side with the Rastafarian.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
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An emergency mental health crisis hold isn’t enough to stop someone from buying a gun, though, according to experts who spoke to the Review Journal.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And a pack of experienced rain-dancers waiting to pounce.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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Gill also notes that experienced professionals can bring wisdom and context that go beyond the checklist of transactions involved in a sale.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There’s also a potential downside to the biggest upside: ownership of the masters.—
Todd Longwell,
Variety,
30 July 2025
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Initial plans for the West Palm Beach envision as many as 1,000 students who would be enrolled in graduate-level business programs—such as an Executive MBA and master’s in finance—as well as other fields like artificial intelligence, data science and computer science.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Who better to run the U.S. military than a Sapphic scholar from south of the border?—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
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It was donated by former museum board member Javier Arango, a highly respected scholar of World War I history who died in 2017 and left his collection to the Smithsonian.—
Lillian Ali,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 July 2025
Noun
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But the question remained: Why would one of music’s most acclaimed and elusive virtuosos take a high school gig from this kid at all?—
David Kushner,
Rolling Stone,
20 July 2025
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An international accordion virtuoso will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 21 in the Normandy Room of the Elmhurst American Legion Post, 310 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficient. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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